Re: [Leica] MP accessory rewind review

[Patrick Jelliffe <pbjbike@yahoo.com>]

John,

You're no Erwin, but the exhaustive and informative
review is much appreciated.  Happy rewinding.

Cheers,

Patrick

 
- --- John Collier <jbcollier@shaw.ca> wrote:
> Well my photo p/op on Friday was not as big as I
> thought it would be 
> but I still managed to run three rolls though the
> old M2 so here is a 
> quick mini review.
> 
> The Leica accessory rewind crank mounts on beside
> and on top of the 
> rewind knob so it sits just slightly proud of the
> top plate. The small 
> spring loaded knob sits up a further few mm from
> there. The front edge 
> also sits about a .5 mm out at the front as well.
> Otherwise it sits 
> within the confines of the top plate. All the edges
> are well rounded 
> and smooth.
> 
> Most of the accessory rewind cranks fill the space
> by the rewind knob. 
> This means when they are deployed for rewinding,
> they just miss the top 
> plate. It is very easy to scratch the top plate with
> most of the 
> accessory rewind cranks out there. One notable
> exception is the 
> "Magnum" design that Stephen Gandy has made
> available again. The Leica 
> accessory rewind crank does not fill the space by
> the rewind knob and 
> that, in combination with the spring loaded knob,
> makes it much less 
> likely you will scratch the top plate. All accessory
> rewind crank have 
> some risk of scratching the top plate. Some make it
> difficult not to 
> while others make it easy not to. I would say the
> Leica is the best in 
> this regard with the "Magnum" second but still miles
> ahead of the rest 
> of the field.
> 
> Most of the accessory rewind cranks have long easy
> to grip knobs which 
> work very well when you are actually rewinding.
> Unfortunately this same 
> long easy to grip knob also means that the crank
> catches on your 
> clothing, bag, curtains, etc. THIS IS VERY ANNOYING.
> It is such a 
> problem that I have always ended up taking the
> accessory rewind cranks 
> off and sticking with the knob. Better a slow rewind
> than a camera that 
> is hard to get out of a bag or constantly playing
> "wait-a-minute" with 
> your clothes and surroundings. The smaller spring
> loaded knob of the 
> Leica accessory rewind crank seems to avoid this
> problem with its lower 
> profile and smooth corners. Thank you Leica!
> 
> The accessory rewind cranks do speed up rewinding
> significantly. 
> Because there is no angle coupling in the rewind
> mechanism of M3/2/P 
> cameras, the rewind action is smoother and even
> faster than with the 
> M4/6/7 cameras. This is where the longer knobs of
> some accessory rewind 
> cranks shine. Easy to grip and a pleasure to use.
> The smaller spring 
> loaded knob of the Leica accessory rewind crank is
> not quite as good. 
> You need to either tightly grip the knob with the
> fleshy part of your 
> thumb and finger -- just like trying to hold on to
> an M4/6/7 knob -- or 
> hook the knob with one of your nails. I use my
> thumbnail and it works 
> just fine. The rewinding is faster and easier than
> with an M4/6/7 
> camera and almost as nice as the other accessory
> rewind cranks with 
> their longer knob.
> 
> One failing that all the accessory rewind cranks
> have is that the now 
> increased mass results in the rewind knob/crank
> assembly deploying if 
> the camera is knocked about while upside down or
> sideways. This is a 
> pretty picky point but it does happen and it might
> then scratch your BP 
> finish (if such things matter to you). The MP may or
> may not be better 
> in this regard as the knob amy have more resistance
> to inadvertent 
> deployment than my aged M2. I suppose it would also
> happen if you 
> slammed the camera onto rock or concrete but that
> would then be the 
> least of your concerns :-)
> 
> In summary, is Leica's accessory rewind crank
> perfect? No, none of the 
> accessory rewind cranks is perfect; but, to me, it
> does strike the 
> perfect compromise. The Leica accessory rewind crank
> is also very 
> expensive. I wish they had spent less on packaging
> and screwdrivers and 
> knocked $70US off the price. Regardless this one is
> going to stay on my 
> M2 and will also mean that my M2 will no longer be
> the ugly duckling in 
> the family. Heck it may even become my second choice
> rather than my 
> third or fourth. If I bought an MP, I would consider
> this a necessary 
> accessory and one that should have been included
> with the camera in the 
> first place. Shame on you Leica! If you are on a
> budget then I would 
> suggest you could try the "Magnum" one as it is the
> second best of the 
> lot and is $70US cheaper.
> 
> Your faithful servant,
> 
> John Collier
> 
> Who did not get a free one from Leica for testing
> but would readily 
> assent to any such underhanded chicanery.
> 
> --
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